Mechanism for brakes and clutches



Feb. 4, 1936. w, N, BOLLER 2,029,287

MECHANISM FOR BRAKES AND CLUTCHES Filed May 20, 1935 ZSheets-Sheet 1 53. 25 t- 15 16 1g 39 J a 22 I a J 3 10 17 T 2 Q) 1 @2- 555g .32

L i 1 28 Q) J 35 13 21 2 Feb. 4, 1936. w N BOLLER I 2,029,287

MECHANISM FOR BRAKES AND 'CLUTCHES Filed May 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 58 6 +F 5' $29 6 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 William N. Boller, Oak Park, Ill., aasi gnor to Peter Boiler Machine Works, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 20, 1935, Serial No. 22,361

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for brakes and clutches and has for its principal object the provision of a structure which can be actuated and controlled by a relatively slight'pressure.

My invention utilizes a jamming or binding effect produced upon an intermediate member by two adjacent rotatable elements mounted upon axes at a slight angle. If one of the elements is rotating, then it tends to draw or wedge the intermediate member between the elements. If

. the second element is free to rotate, it will do so but a very slight pressure applied to it will act to brake the whole mechanism, or if the pressure means mounted on a further rotatable member, that member will be driven. In practice I prefer to mount the intermediate member and adjacent elements for free rotation, so that release of the jamming action occurs immediately the appropriate releasing actuation is made.

Essentially the brake and clutch are devices for the same purpose. The function of both devices is to make one element fast or immovablerelative to another element. The difference is usually that in a clutch both elements move, whereas in the case of a brake, one element is stationary and a result of the application of the brake is to bring the other element into a position of rest. My improved structure is readily adapted for both purposes, as will fully appear from the following detailed descriptions of preferred em'- bodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through a clutch housing, showing a clutch in which is embodied the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. sectional detail view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an automobile brake which embodies the invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the broken line55ofFig.4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 4, and t Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 1-1 of'Fig. 5.

balls IS. The ring I4 is secured tothe rear face of the fly wheel II, for example by welding, and it is located at a slight angle to the axial direction of the crank shaft l and propeller shaft I 3. The

deviation from this direction is preferably less than 10 degrees. I prefer to employ a deviation of approximately 7 degrees. The outer race element [6 rotates freely upon the balls, l5 and is prevented from axial movement relative to the ring H by these balls, in the manner well known 10 with ball bearings. Upon the shaft I3 I rigidly mount an inner race member H which carries an outer race member I 8. -The race members I! and I8 are connected and are held against relative axial movement by v means of the balls IS. The elements I! and I8 are Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the 7 reference numeral I 0 designates the crank shaft of an automobile, which crank shaft is secured by bolts to a fly wheel II. The fly wheel is provided at its center with a bearing I2 for a propeller shaft l3. Around the propeller shaft is located aring M which constitutes'the inner race for mounted truly upon the shaft l3 so that the adjacent faces of the members l6 and I8 are located at a slight angle, being the same angle referred to above,v which in the present case'is 2 v approximately 7 degrees. The distance between these two faces is relatively small, as shown in Fig. 1, so that, a roller may engage these faces at a position preferably approximately half way between the positions of minimum and maximum distance between the faces.

The roller 20 may suitably be mounted by means of balls 2| upon an arm 22 which projects radially from a collar 23 which is'freely mounted upon the shaft l3 between the elements l6 and I8.

Forward of the collar 23 the shaft I 3 has keyed thereon a radial finger 24 which extends into an opening 25 formed in an inwardly projecting tongue 26 of the element l6. As a result of this connection the element l6 rotates with the shaft I3 and does not rotate when the shaft I3 is at rest. When, however, the shaft I0 is rotating; the element l6 moves or swings owing to the conical movement of its axis, the same being oblique with respect to the shaft l0. As a result of this precession-like movement of the element IE, it tends to chase the roller 20 before it in the direction of rotation of the shaft l0, that is, the clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. The element l6 engages the roller 20 in less than one revolution of the shaft l0, and in the present construction in not more than one-half a revolu-- tion of that shaft. As a consequence of this engagement, the roller rotates upon the element l6 and its frictional contact with the element l8 causes that element to rotate.

I have found that a very slight force applied to the element l8 causes a slight but powerful jamming action of the roller 20 between the elements JBand It. The result of this slight force is to applied to the prevent relative movement between .the ele-axle housing 55. The sleeve 60 rigidly carries a ments 1 6, and I8. As a result. the element I6 is prevented from oscillating relative to the shaft I6 and-all that the shaft I6 can do with this locked system is to .carry it around on the common axis of the shafts Ill and I3. The final result is that the drive of the shaft-I0 is communicated directly to the shaft I3 through the rigid finger 24: The slight braking force can very readily be element |8in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The braking element comprises a disc 21 provided with a central collar 28 whereby it is slidably mounted on the shaft I3 remote from-the 15 roller 20. A The disc 2! is provided with an annular friction pad 29 which is adapted'to engage the rear face of the element |8. The disc 21 is normally held in br'aking relationwith respect to the member I8 by means of springs 38 located v '20 in openings in themembers II, which springs abut against the heads 3| of pins 32 which extend rearwardly from the disc 21. The clutching I .effect can also be aided by means of a coil spring 33 located around the shaft I3 and abutting against the end bf the collar 28 against a flange 34 upon the shaft I3. The shoulder 34 abuts against the bearing 35 of the shaft I3, which 1 bearing is mounted in the clutch housing 36.

For the actuation of the clutch; provide a foot pedal 3I,which extends through a slot 38 in the clutch housing 36. The pedal is pivotally mounted on a rod 39 within this housing and at ltsj lower end is provided with slotted furcations 46 which engage pins 4| on the slip ring 42. The

slip ring42 is secured upon the sleeve 26 by' -means of a nut 43. e e

- It will readily be appreciated that a very slight pressure to the foot pedal 31 will cause the disc '21 to 'be drawn rearwardly slightly, with the result that no force impedes the free movement of the element I8 upon the balls I9. Consequently the jamming or wedging effect resulting from the gyratory movement of the element IG, as a result pf its axis following the conical form, is fully re 45 the resulting free rotation of the element I8. When the pedal 31 is released, the braking effect is immediately re-exerted upon the member I8,

with vthe result described above that the elements I6, 20 and I8 bind together as a rigid unit which is rotated with the shaft I0 and which coinmunicates the drive of that shaft directly to the shaft I3.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7,- which illustrate 5 the embodiment of the invention in the form of an automobile brake, the reference numeral 5| indicates a .rear wheel of the automobile. The reference numeral 52 indicates the axle on which the wheel 5| is mounted. The thrust of the wheel ia applied through bearings' 53 to a sleeve 54 which is rigid with and projects from the rear axle housing 55. The brake mechanism is contained within a drum 56 rigidly mounted at its inner end upon the rear axle housing 55. The drum 56 is open adjacent the wheel 5| and the wheel comprises an inner plate 51 which normally closes the drum. I provide around the edge of the plate 51 an annular packing element 58 which engages the inner edge of the drum 56 and maintains an oil-proof seal therewith. The packing element 58 m y suitably be an annular strip of leather or the like secured to the plate 51 by an annular clamping element 59.

The hub of the wheel 5| comprises a sleeve 66 which projects into the drum 56 around the rear lieved by the free rotation of the roller 26 and;

sleeve 6| which is provided with an annular surface 62 slightly oblique to-the axis of the axle 52. The degree of obliquity, as in the previously described embodiment, is preferably less than 10 degrees, and may suitably be of the order of 7 degrees. Upon the element 5| is forced or .other- The screw 61 and collar 68 project into a slot 69 in an angular bracket I0.

The angular bracket 10 is rigidly mounted upon the interior of the drum 56 so as to keep the slot 69 parallel to the axle 52. it will readily be understood from the description of the previous embodiment that as the wheel 5| rotates, the element 65 will not )otate with it, this rotation being prevented by he engagement of the pin 61 with the bracket I0, but the elemnt 65 ,will gyrate or change its axis in the manner described above, owihg to the fact that its axis moves in the path of a cone surface during each rotation of the wheel 5|.

mount upon. the axle housing a'sleeve II. From opposite sides of the sleeve II. project outwardly in the radial direction shafts I2 which may suitably be in the form of bolts threaded into the openings in the sleeve I|. These bolts serve to mount the inner races I3, as shown in Fig. 5, upon the sleeve II. Spacing blocks I4 locate the races I3 at the proper distance outwardly from the sleeves II to bring the races 15 outwardly to a position where they may make contact with the races and I6. The races 15 are carried on the ra'es'13 by means of balls 11. The race I6 is carried by means of balls I8 upon the-stationary race I9, which is keyed, orotherwise rigidly secured, to the axle housing 55. The elements 65 and 16 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the housing 55 so that the diametrically opposite races I5 are located approximately halfway between the positions of maximum and minimum distance between the races 65 and I6. It is preferred that the races I5 should have a small degree of back-lash so that one or the other is out of contact with the races 65 and 16. The direction of rotation of the wheel determines which of the races I5 is engaged by'the races 65 and I6 and when the direction of the wheel is reversed, the engagement of theseraces changes.

that the back-lash should be slight. Means are provided whereby a relatively slight braking action can be applied to the race I6. This means may suitably comprise a brake band provided with an anchor 8| and actuated by a rod 82 in any suitable manner, by a foot or handle control. 'It will be understood that the particular type of brake mechanism here employed is immaterial, since any means which is capable of applying a slight braking force uponthe race I6 is suitable for this purpose.-

I From the discussion of the pre iously described embodiment, it will be understood that when the brake band 80 is off, the movement of the race -65, when the wheel 5| rotates, which arises from the slight obliquity of its axis with respect to the axle of the wheel; causes this race to engage one of the races I5 and force itaround the axis in a ing effect upon the automobile.

planetary path. Since the race is held against rotation by the bracket 10, the race I5 rolls upon its surface. This rolling causes the race 16 to rotate freely. When the brake band 80 is tightened, this free rotation is impeded to a greater or less degree and the force thus applied is multiplied many times due to the slight angle which the race 65 has with respect to the race 16. The smaller this angle, the greater is the factor by which the braking force is multiplied.

If the race 16 is held against rotation, the race 16 becomes immediately jammed between the races 65 and I6 and the wheels become locked. In other words, the race '65, race 16 and interinedlate'race I5 become a locked system incapable of independent movementt. This system is held against rotation by the engagement of the bolt $1 with the bracket I0. Thebrake band 80 asto a slight degree in preventing rotation of this system, but this force is very slight and orgilnarily it is inadequate to exert a direct brak- As indicated above, the force thus applied to the race 16 is multiplied many times in braking effect, owing to the slight angularity between the two races 65 and 16. Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of preferred embodiments thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of .the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

of one of said elements and operative means for restraining and releasing the other element at will.

2. Mechanism for brakes and lclutches comprising two elements having axes located at a z'small angle, whereby one moves its axisin a conical path, a rotary member engaging said elements caused to move in planetary fashion ahead .of diverging faces of said elements with resulting rotation of said member, the other element being capable of free rotation by said, member,

and operative means for restraining the rotation of last said element.

3'. Mechanism for brakes and clutches comprising a shaft, an elementmounted thereon for rotation on a fixed axis, a rotary member having a fixed axis, an element mounted thereon for free relative rotation of the rotary member, said element being mounted on, an axis located at a small angle relative to the axis of the rotary member whereby the axis of said element is caused to move in a conical path during the rotation of the rotary member, means restraining the movement of said element relative to said member, a wheel, member mounted for free rotation, means carrying said. wheel planetary fashion between said elements, and means for restraining the movement of the first said ele-" ment.

4. Mechanism for brakes and clutches comprising a shaft, an element mounted thereon for rotation on a fixed axis. a rotary member having a fixed axis, an element mountedthereon for free relative rotation of the rotary member,

said element being mounted on an axis located at a small angle relative to the axis of the rotary member whereby the axis of said element is caused to move in a conical path during the rotation of the rotary member, means for prevent- 5 ing rotation of said element, a wheel member mounted for free rotation, means carrying said wheel planetary fashion between same elements, and an operative friction member for impeding the movement of the first said element.

5. A clutch between driving and driven elements comprising a supporting member on one element, an annular member mounted thereon for free relative rotation of the element, means on the other element engaging said annular member to cause said member and said element to rotate together, an annular member mounted for free rotation in spaced relation to and in sub-- stantial alignment with the first said annular member, operable frictional means for applying a braking force on last said annular member, said annular members being located out of parallelity by a small angle, and a wheel mounted for planetary and rotary movement and adapted to be engaged between said members.

6. A clutch between driving and driven elements comprising a supporting member on one element located with its axis at a small angleto the axis of the element, an annular member mounted thereon for free relative rotation of the 3 element, means on the other element engaging said annular member to cause said member and said element to rotate together, an annular member mounted on said shaft for free rotation thereon in spaced relation to, and in substantial alignment with the first said annular member, operable means for providing a frictional connection between the last said member and said shaft,

said annular members being located out of parallelity by a small angle, and a wheel mounted for 40 planetary and rotary movement and adapted to be engaged between said members.

'7. A brake for a vehicle'wheel comprising a member freely rotatable on said wheel, a member freely rotatable on said vehicle, said members a being in spaced relation and arranged out of parallelity by a small angle, a freely rotatable wheel mounted therebetween for planetary and rotary motion in contact with said members, means for preventing rotation of one member relative to 50 the vehicle, and means for applying a braking force upon the other member.

8. A brake for a vehicle wheel comprising a member freely rotatable on said wheel on an axis at a small angle to the axis of the wheel, a member freely rotatable on said vehicle about the axis of the wheel, said members being in spaced relation, a freely rotatable wheel mounted therebetween for planetary and rotary motion in contact with said members, means for preventing rotation of one member relative to the vehicle, and means for applying a braking force upon the other member.

9. A brake for a vehicle wheel comprising a member freely rotatable on said wheel on an axis at a small angle to the axis of the wheel, means for preventing rotation of said member relative to the vehicle, a member freely rotatable on said vehicle about the axis of the wheel, a brake for restraining the rotation of the last said member, T said members being in spaced relation, and a freely rotatable wheel mounted therebetween for planetary and rotary motion in contact with said members.

WILLIAM N. BOILER, I 

